New York Law Firm Launches Blockchain Practice

Law firm Morris Manning & Martin LLP announced Tuesday that it had launched a new blockchain and cryptocurrency group to “meet rising demand from companies of all stripes, for advice on adopting the technology.”

Law 360 Reports:

Leading the Atlanta-based firm’s group is Austin Mills, a technology attorney with a background in financial technology who has advised clients on using cryptocurrencies, among other practice areas, the firm said.

In a conversation Wednesday with Law360, Mills said that the group will help companies and entrepreneurs grapple with understanding the legal…

Atlanta (October 2017) – Morris, Manning & Martin, one of the country’s leading technology law firms, today announced the formation of its Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Group focusing on legal and business issues related to the rapid growth and new applications of blockchain technology.

The new Blockchain and CryptocurrencyGroup will be led by Austin Mills, an attorney in the firm’s Technology Practice who concentrates on addressing key issues facing companies and entrepreneurs applying blockchain technology in a variety of businesses and industries. “Austin is one of MMM’s leading attorneys in our Technology Practice and has a unique talent for analyzing and applying the law to new technologies like blockchain, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies,” said John Yates, who chairs MMM’s Technology Practice.

Blockchain technology has the potential to disrupt a wide spectrum of industries that are addressed by other MMM practices — insurance, trade, social media, the internet of things, real estate, legal contracts, healthcare, energy and financial services. The opportunities and challenges it presents, as well as MMM’s experience supporting clients in these markets, prompted the firm to start its Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Group. The new practice will inform, counsel and educate clients on legal and business issues arising from adoption of blockchain technology.

Blockchain is a shared, distributed ledger of transactions or data. The ledger tracks transactions, which are grouped together in a data structure called blocks. Multiple users can see and maintain matching copies of the ledger. Any change has a cascading effect, increasing security, efficient transaction processing and transactional transparency. For a high-level overview on the current blockchain environment, click here.

“Blockchain technology is now a tangible reality that could disrupt any industry that relies on the movement of data or value,” says Austin Mills, who heads the new group. “Supporting clients in the cryptocurrency space for several years has prepared MMM for the next wave of innovation. We believe there are very few industries or business models that will not be exposed to or disrupted by blockchain,” adds Mills, who represents blockchain, technology, payments, healthcare and financial services companies.

MMM takes a multi-disciplinary approach to supporting its blockchain-related clients; attorneys across several practice groups – including Securities, Tax, Litigation, Technology, Payments and Corporate – are actively monitoring developments in the blockchain community and engaging with clients on innovative legal solutions.

The firm already supports clients in blockchain-related initiatives, including Token Sales – commonly referred to as Initial Coin Offerings or ICOs – which are innovative ways to raise capital, fund projects, and generate community growth and involvement. These present legal challenges relating to the application of existing laws (e.g. securities, money transmission, currency, and tax) as well as uncertainty regarding what the future regulatory environment may look like. For more information, click here.

The firm has also established a LinkedIn group to share content about the legal, business and regulatory landscape of related issues.

MMM is also working to establish industry groups to foster and grow the blockchain business community, and to encourage regulators and other key stakeholders to foster and enable its growth and applications.

About Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP

Morris, Manning & Martin (www.mmmlaw.com) is an AmLaw 200 law firm with national and international reach. We dedicate ourselves to the constant pursuit of our clients’ success. To provide our clients with optimal value, we combine market-leading legal services with a total understanding of their needs to maximize effectiveness, efficiency and opportunity. MMM enjoys national prominence for its real estate, corporate, litigation, technology, healthcare, intellectual property, energy & infrastructure, capital markets, environmental, international trade, insurance, and timberland & forest products practices. MMM has offices in and around Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah and Washington, D.C. The firm also has a business development office in Beijing, China and a strategic alliance office in São Paulo, Brazil.